We are finding our way through a very different advent season. This year, there are no boxes of decorations to bring down from the attic to trim our little home with memories dating back to our childhood Christmases. Leah is in the middle of a big project at work, which means more long and demanding days at the office and less gingerbread houses, glitter snowflakes and afternoon hot cocoa picnics. With our future still uncertain and a house still to be sold in NC, the pile of presents under the tree will be smaller and our shopping lists for giving shorter. It can feel like all the celebrating going on around us just shines a glaring light on this temporary, unsettling season of life.
With determination we begin this Christmas season with a commitment to embrace the differentness of it all. There is no sense trying to recreate something that is impossible given our current circumstances. We look for new ways to embrace what is here, right now— lights strung on palm trees, a parade down State Street, holiday books from the library, a hot cocoa date at Starbucks, freedom from addressing 100 Christmas cards, watching the boat parade of lights from the deck…and find the ways to weave a few treasured traditions in too— a pizza picnic in front of the fire, welcoming Maurice, our Elf on the Shelf, to California, family advent celebrations and cuddle dates on the sofa with Charlie Brown and Frosty.
Our hope this Christmas season is what Barbara Brown Taylor says, “While none of these displacements was pleasant at first, I would not give a single one of them back. I have found things while I was lost that I might never have discovered if I had stayed on the path.” We set off on this different path with hope that this simple Christmas may lead to discoveries within our hearts that center us on the true spirit of this season— a love that came down and gave abundantly. Challenging our eyes to not focus on what isn’t there, but instead to be amazed and awed by the riches of love, family, faithfulness, forgiveness and hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows that hold us close, hold us together. Maybe that’s all we need to have ourselves a merry little Christmas.
3 comments:
love this and so honest and true. Love the quote...so very perfect. Hugs to you all. we miss you!
Appreciated so much you comments on the different-ness of this Christmas. For the first time in 38 years, we are in a different home. Feels like I'm decorating someone else's tree in someone else's house. A time of adjustment for a sentimental person like me. Back to the basics is the only balm. Thank you, Betty O.
Miss you my friend -- it was good to see all of your smiling faces on the blog.
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